Danielle's Beauty Blog

Morning all! I have a new empties post today that is heavy on the skincare! I’ve been on a mission to finish up both my copious amount of minis but also my more acid based skincare as I started Roaccutane last week so can’t use it anymore as my skin is so dry and sensitive! I’ve split my skincare empties into cleansers and then a bit of everything else and I have also linked where possible to previous reviews! You can click on them if you fancy reading a bit more detail on any of the products as I try to keep my empties reviews as short as possible as there are always so many to get through! 

Haircare

TRESemme Day 2 Volumising Dry Shampoo

This has a fresh, light scent and leaves no white cast but it’s not very volumizing. Basically not the worst dry shampoo I’ve tried but not the best either, so not too bad if you can get it on offer!

Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Avocado + Kiwi mega moisture superfood mask 

A nice mask that made my hair super soft. It smells like sweets but I not a repurchase for me as I only got two uses out of it and the full size is £30, would rather spend that on Olaplex! 

Bodycare

Nivea Soft

One of my favourite body moisturisers! Sinks in quickly, hydrating and smells so fresh and clean, always on offer and a tub lasts ages! Forever repurchased! 

Nivea Hand Cream smooth care 

Another favourite! Can’t go wrong with this hand cream! It’s lightweight, hydrating, sinks in quickly and like all Nivea products, smells fresh and clean! Will repurchase when I finish a few other hand creams up! 

Skincare

Cleansers 

Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser 

I sound like a broken record now but this is another favourite! I have lost count of how many of these tubes I have gone through but it’s a lovely, gentle exfoliating cleanser with glycolic acid but it’s never stripping due to the addition of oils and hyaluronic acid! Couldn’t recommend more but I won’t be repurchasing until I finish my course of Roaccutane! 

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser 

This contains cherry, lemon and aloe juices as well as retinyl patmitate but I was left a bit underwhelmed (similar to how I felt about their serum). It has a watery gel texture and doesn’t foam up too much, leaves my skin feeling mattifed but maybe a touch dryer than other cleansers. I’m probably being a bit hard on this as it claims to clear blemishes and I didn’t notice much but shortly after finishing I did go on Roaccutane lol but not a repurchase for me! 

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

Really lovely lightweight, balancing, non-drying cleanser. I have used up a few sample sizes of this but never bought the full size however I am contemplating it now as my skin is much more sensitive and dryer than it usually is! 

Indie Lee Rosehip Cleanser 

A nourishing, calming and non-stripping cleanser that I can’t seem to on any UK websites now so it may have been discontinued but another one that would have been good for my skin right now! 

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser 

Another mini I didn’t appreciate at the time! This is a gentle, creamy, hydrating cleanser and I confess I sometimes find these scent free products boring but right now it is what my skin is crying out for so another I will be thinking about repurchasing soon! 

Emma Hardie Moringa Light Cleansing Gel

The balm is a constant in my routine and this smells just as beautiful and felt very hydrating – in my full review I said I preferred using this at night due to the leftover oils after rinsing but guess what? I want to try it again too for my morning routine haha so yes will be considering a repurchase! 

Ven Effect Pore Minimising Cleanser 

This was a nice gel cleanser that left my skin feeling balanced, smooth and mattified. Would consider a repurchase in the future as it was better suited to my oily skin! 

Elemis Pro Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm

Can’t say I was a huge fan of this even though I wanted to be as it is so hyped! To me it felt like applying melted toffee to my face and my eyes were pretty sensitive to it too though it did remove makeup well. Wouldn’t repurchase! 

Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup Melting Butter Cleanser 

I was surprised at how much I did like this one considering everything else I have tried from the brand has fallen short of expectations. This melts into skin easily to remove makeup and my eyes weren’t sensitive to it! I wouldn’t repurchase though as there are other balms I prefer and I don’t love this brands attitude! 

And the rest!

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

A really great budget azelaic acid, it targets the texture of blemishes and has brightening properties. I really want to try the Paula’s Choice version of this but it’s always out of stock so I picked up the Garden of Wisdom version to try but would repurchase this one again in the future! 

NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1 

Quite possibly my favourite skincare product of all time and one that has been a constant in my skincare arsenal for over 4 years now! I am so mad at myself for not using this consistently when I first got it, I had so many serums on the go this one got forgotten about but honestly in the last month when I was using it consistently my skin just looked and felt so much better! There is a whole lot of science behind this but basically it’s an amazing product for the overall health of your skin targeting skin aging, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores and a lack of radiance. I plan to repurchase once I see what Deciem are doing for Black Friday! 

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil 

My favourite facial oil! I have gone through so many bottles of this and it is so good for nourishing skin and keeping it hydrated and smooth! Will repurchase once I finish up my current oils! 

Garden of Wisdom Hyaluronic Acid Serum 

Absolutely loved this hyaluronic acid! I am so picky over formulas and this one ticks all the boxes - lightweight gel, spreads easily, hydrates, affordable! A little goes a long way and I will repurchase this soon! 

Disciple Dreamy Skin

Another beautiful facial oil containing rosehip oil and retinyl palmitate. It's hydrating, reduces fine lines and helps with pigmentation. Highly recommend and will repurchase in the future! 

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence 

I’ve had this for longer than I care to remember and finally got round to using it consistently and I really liked it! Skin felt firmer, hydrated and more even! Very pricey though so not a repurchase for me until I win the lottery! 

Boscia Exfoliating Peel Gel 

I found this a bit gimmicky and used it on the backs of my arms. It’s a gel that once rubbed in feels like its pilling so it’s a fun formula and feels gentle but I just prefer other exfoliants so wouldn’t repurchase! 

Sukin Original Hydrating Mist Toner 

This is a lovely little mist – it’s cooling and soothing and very affordable! Will repurchase! 

Dr Dennis Gross Stress Repair Face Cream 

I absolutely loved this face cream! It felt calming and hydrating and also contains one of my favourite ingredients – niacinamide! My skin always felt plump and looked brighter after use! Would repurchase even though its pricey! 

Makeup 

Revlon Colourstay for Combination/Oily Skin in shade Buff 

You know the score with this one! Good, affordable, full coverage foundation that lasts well on my oily skin! Have already repurchased in the dry skin version! 

NYX Matte Finish setting spray 

This was a nice spray that didn’t leave any dreaded “white spots” behind. I think it helped mattify in the morning when I sprayed it but it didn’t last throughout the day. Saying that though I would buy again if on offer to give it a better try! 

Collection Primed + Ready Invisible Setting Powder 

Absolutely loved this powder! It’s finely milled, mattifying and didn’t cling to dry patches, It’s also £3.99 and always on offer! Will repurchase! 

Beautyblender

The best founcation applicator there is and the only one that gives me a streak free, even finish! Worth the money and I already have a back up J

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel 

This mini lasted me ages! Keeps my brows in place nicely but I would say it’s a little crispy to the touch but nothing you would notice to look at! Already have a backup of this! 

Have you tried any of these products before Let me know your thoughts on them! 

Danielle xx

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Today, I thought I would add my two pence on one of the many new additions to Charlotte Tilbury’s makeup line – the Airbrush Bronzer in 2 Medium! I lusted after this all summer but just couldn’t bring myself to spend £39 on it and I find CT discounts are usually capped at 10% off or the brand is excluded altogether. I finally made the purchase when Space NK did their £15 off a £60 spend and made the most of the discount with a few other purchases too! 

First off, this is the largest bronzer I own by a mile, at 18g it’s a whopper! No risk of me hitting pan or running out any time soon so I guess that price tag becomes a little easier to swallow! By comparison, NARS Laguna is 8g and Fenty Sun Stalkr is 6.23g. With only four shades, it’s not the most inclusive and I have to say that the second shade Medium is not actually as dark as I was expecting and I wondered if I could have got away with 3 Tan which is a little shocking considering how fair/pale I am! 

Not being as dark as I expected is not necessarily a bad thing as it means I can easily build up the colour. The powder is very finely milled and I wouldn’t say its hugely pigmented – again not a bad thing in my eyes – and this really does give a beautiful airbrushed finish as the name would suggest. It’s smooth to apply, gives my face some subtle warmth and blends seamlessly into the rest of my makeup leaving no harsh, hard to blend lines. It’s matte too but not flat and I really am blown away with the formula!

Not sure why I sound so shocked as I love all the Charlotte Tilbury products I have and in particular the bronze shade from Bronze and Glow is a long term favourite of mine! The only thing I would say is that on my oily/combo skin I do notice some slight fading/wearing off close to my ear where I am on the phone for work. This isn’t something that’s noticeable to other people and is a recurring problem I have with all bronzers not just this one! 

The compact itself, apart from being a bitch to photograph, is absolutely beautiful, it’s like a giant shell! It’s size doesn’t make it feel overly heavy and it’s sleek and got a good size mirror too. I don’t want to jinx myself but I feel like if I dropped it the powder would break in an instant so let’s hope I don’t get butter fingers! 

I’ve included some unedited swatches with some of my other bronzers so you can get an idea of how the shade compares, hopefully it helps! I am forever looking up swatches of products I am interested in especially now when I can’t get to test them out at the actual counter! If you like these types of reviews check out my NARS Laguna one too! 

Have you tried this bronzer? Let me know your thoughts or tell me what your favourite Charlotte Tilbury product is! 

Danielle xx

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Morning all! I was having a nosy through my mums makeup the other day and thought I would do an updated version of this post from a few years ago (based on one Jasmine did)! Not much has changed but here’s a little look into a fifty somethings makeup bag! 

Like myself, my mum’s two favourite foundations are Estee Lauder Double Wear in Desert Beige and Revlon Colourstay Combination/Oily in Sand Beige. She has been reaching for the Colourstay more often these days as she’s not going too far and its obviously more affordable than the EL. Both are long lasting, full coverage and staples in both our makeup bags! When I discovered the Laura Mercier Translucent loose setting powder a few years ago I told my mum about it and lo and behold she bought a pot and loves it too! Its mattifying without being cakey and even though its expensive, a pot lasts a long time! 

Her bronzer which you can see is well loved it a cast off from me from longer ago than I care to remember! It’s the Loreal Glam Bronze in 06 Golden Bronze which seems to be discontinued (my mum said typical when I told her this which we will get to in a minute) or renamed as Back to Bronze now! She likes it as it’s not too in your face and the light shade means she can build it up! I’m one part impressed one part embarrassed my mum is still using this mini NARS Orgasm blush, she likes a project empty more than me! This is another hand me down from me as I already have the shade and while my mum said she likes the colour she found it too sparkly so it’s not going to be one she repurchases! She also uses an Estee Lauder compact she got as a GWP (shades are Signature Silky Powder Bush Nude Rose 11, Bronze Goddess Soft Matte bronzer 01 and Signature Shimmer powder Gold Pearl 01). Clearly the matte blush and bronzer shade are more loved than the shimmer but she says she mixes these as a blush. 

The NYX Retractable waterproof eye liner in Grey is the best eye liner my mum has found in recent years as it doesn’t smudge and stays put all day and as luck would have it NYX seem to have discontinued it! My mum currently has five backups as she noticed it was out of stock everywhere but the NYX website and I just went to see if I could link it and it’s not there anymore! She is not impressed! For her brows she uses Gimme Brow in shade 1 as it’s so quick and easy and she’s just asked me to get her a new one for Christmas too! Although she has tried the Charlotte Tilbury lip cheat in Pillowtalk she find she goes through it too quickly for what it’s worth so she is back to the No7 Precision Lips pencil in Nude as its much more affordable and does the job! Bobbi Brown lip colour in Brown has been my mums signature lipstick for as long as I can remember and the only one she used until I sent her a mini MAC Velvet Teddy for Christmas one year! The MAC is more matte but both last well and are similar shades, classic nudes!

With the amount of pan going on in this picture I asked what back-ups she has and similarly to last time we have Benefit Hoola Bronzer as well as NYX Blush in Mauve (another recommendation from moi and another one that is discontinued and she bought back ups of lol).

Like last time there is no primer, concealer, highlighter, eyeshadow or mascara here because my mum doesn’t use them! She wears glasses and gets her lashes tinted so just misses the mascara step and doesn’t see the point in the others! Do you recognise any of these products from your makeup bag? What do you do when your favourite makeup products get discontinued? 

Danielle xx

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I’m really enjoying going through my stash at the minute and doing these current skincare posts so here’s what is currently in my facial mist collection! First up, my ultimate favourite, holy grail – the January Labs Restorative Tonic Mist! I have lost count over how many bottles I have went through of this stuff now and I could not recommend it more! It’s refreshing, hydrating and really helps with blemishes! Containing aloe extract, witch hazel, sodium PCA, flower oil extract, licorice and calendula extract, this mist is anti-inflammatory and works as an antioxidant too! I use this in my morning and evening skincare routine after cleansing and toning before treatments or serums and moisturisers. There is a slight scent but it’s not offensive in the slightest and it’s been a staple in my skincare routine for four years now! Believe me when I say I am DEVASTATED Cult Beauty do not stock this anymore. If anyone knows of another UK seller please tell me because the shipping and customs to order this from the USA are more expensive than the product itself which is $24 

As a side note, it seems Cult Beauty have removed a few more indie brands from their website, as well as January Labs, I noticed Mabel + Meg have disappeared too. Obviously a business decision was made but as a consumer this is disappointing to me as that’s what I went to Cult Beauty for, not the big brand names like Elemis etc they have started selling. Personally, as Cult Beauty rarely do discounts, I try to wait for the GWP offer before making a purchase off their site and that’s when I will splurge! Look Fantastic do 20% off Elemis every day of the week so if I was buying something from them it would be off LF! Anyway rant over! 

Next up I have the Pyunkang Yul Mist Toner which I purchased at the same time as the cult favourite essence toner. Cooling and soothing, this contains Barberry root extract (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory) as well as sodium hyaluronate so it feels nicely hydrating too. It’s also fragrance free and has been a real nice addition into my skincare routine as it’s so calming! Its £9.50 and Tonic15 usually have up to 15% off with a code! 

My other long term love and one I have just recently repurchased as it’s a handbag/desk side staple for me is the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater! It contains aloe and rosewater and like the others feels very refreshing and hydrating on the skin. I spritz my face with this throughout the day and find it doesn’t disturb my makeup as it delivers a good even dose of hydration. It also helps with the mid-afternoon slump as its cooling! Worth mentioning this contains fragrance which I find quite light so it doesn’t bother me but I know a lot of people don’t love this spray! It’s £6.75 from Beauty Bay and they often have 20% off it! 

Finally, the Sukin Original Hydrating Mist Toner was one I picked up from Holland and Barratt a few months ago when trying to meet the minimum spend for free delivery haha, at £2.50 I couldn’t say no! This is also one I prefer as a handbag spritz and I love how dinky it is! I thought I would go through it very quickly but its lasted me ages! It contains chamomile and rosewater and again it feels cooling and soothing and I know over winter when my skin dries out with the heating and weather extremes it will help hydrate it! 

So, that’s what I currently have in my collection! It’s also worth noting these are all alcohol free which is important to me as I use them mostly as an extra step for hydration and the calming effect they have! Let me know what your favourites are, I am always on the lookout for new products! If you want to see my other instalments in this blog series, here are the last batch of cleansers and toners!

Danielle xx

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